A Commuter student journey transitioning from school to university

Starting university is often described as a major life change, and while that is certainly true, my transition looked a little different from many students'. As a commuter student, I didn't have to adjust to living away from home or moving into halls. Instead, the biggest changes for me were adapting to university-level study and becoming part of a new academic community at the University of Birmingham.

Having studied Criminology at A-level, I arrived with a basic understanding of key theories, crime trends, and issues within the criminal justice system. However, criminology goes far beyond what is covered at sixth form. The workload is more demanding, the reading is more extensive, and the modules allow you to explore specialised topics in much greater depth. Rather than simply learning about theories, you are encouraged to critically evaluate them, engage with academic research, and develop your own arguments.

One thing that helped me make the transition was studying BTEC IT alongside my A-levels. The coursework-based nature of the qualification meant I was already familiar with producing longer written assignments, managing deadlines, and working independently. Although university essays and assessments require a higher level of critical analysis and academic writing, having experience with long writing smoothed over the transition a ton!

The biggest academic difference I noticed was the level of independence expected from students. At sixth form, lessons were highly structured and teachers regularly checked your progress. At university, lectures provide the foundation for learning, but much of your understanding develops through independent study and preparation for seminars. Learning how to manage my time effectively and stay on top of weekly reading became essential, particularly during busy assessment periods.

Socially, settling into university also took time. Freshers' Week can make it seem like everyone instantly finds their friendship group, but in reality, not everything happens right away. As someone who commutes, I found that seminars, lectures, and societies are a great way to make new friends. In all honesty, it hasn’t been easy but working for the College of Social Sciences as a student ambassador did help that as well!

Day to day became a lot different too! Previously, I used to live near my college, so transitioning to university added commuting to my schedule. Sometimes, on shorter days, I spent more time commuting than in lectures or seminars combined. However, I still came and managed to make the most of my days by exploring the huge, gorgeous campus and even more of the surrounding areas, either studying, café-hopping or just learning to enjoy more of my own company.

Looking back, my biggest piece of advice would be not to worry if the transition feels challenging at first. University is a different environment, and it takes time to adjust to the increased independence and expectations. Don't be afraid to ask questions, attend seminars prepared, and make use of the support available from your lecturers and department. Also make sure to attend every society you may or may not be interested, and lastly: talk to people! I wish I did more of that during my first and second year!